Valve actuating mechanism



Sept 21 1948 H. c. WILKENING 2,449,733

VALVE ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed April 22, l1944 TTORNEY Patented Sept. 21, 1948 e VALVE ACTUATING MECHANISM Herbert o. Wilkening, Dayton, ohio, assigner to United Aircraft Products, Inc`Dayton, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio `[application April 22, 1944, Serial No. 532,223

2 Claims. (Cl. 251-97) 1 This invention relates to valve mechanisms, for example fuel cocks for use in aircraft, and particularly to actuating means for obtaining axial and rotative movements of the valve.

Fuel cocks of the class described are interposed between the aircraft engine and the several fuel tanks supplying the engine, and it is their function selectively to communicate the tanks with the engine. Thus, when `the fuel supply in one tank is exhausted, the operator may adjust the fuel cock to interrupt communication of the engine with the empty tank and establish a new connection with a fresh source of supply. Selection between the tanks is accomplished through variable rotative adjustment of a tapered plug type valve. Because the valve normally is pressed to a seated position considerable torque resistance is offered to turning movementthereof. Accordingly, the valve is diflicult to operate and is subject to excessive wear. As a corrective measure it is the practice when operating the valve to impart first an axial lifting motion thereof from the valve seat and then a rotative motion to a new position of adjustment. In this manner the resistance of the valve to turning movement is lessened before a Vrotative impulse actually is delivered thereto. Since the fuel cock ordinarily is` arranged for remote control, as a matter of convenience motion in only one sense is trans mitted thereto. Means on the fuel cock are provided for converting the motion of single sense into successive axial and rotative movements of the valve. conventionally the valve actuating means has a rotary motion, and camming and `lost motion devices are utilized to effect thevalve operations in the desired direction and sequence. Such devices have heretofore been of a nature `to add` disproportionately to the complexity and V,comprising adjacent relatively movable elements spring pressedinto surfaceengagement, and complementary` portions on the elements operable in response `to-rotary movement of one of the elementsto; eiect successive motions of the other element,- rst in an axial `direction and then in aprotary direction. I

I Other objects and structural details of the invention willappear from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: g l Fig. `1 is a view in vertical longitudinal section of a `fuel :cock embodying the valve operating mechanism of the invention;

` Fig. 2 isa :top plan view of the fuel cock of Fig. l; l .Fig. 3 is ai fragmentary view in longitudinal sectiontaken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and ,Fig. `4 is a view in cross section, and partly broken away, of detent means associated with the valve, beingk taken substantially along the line 45e-4 of Fig. 1.

. Referring to Fig. 1 a fuel cock constructed in `threaded to receive tubing I6, connected respecn tively to individual fuel supply tanks and to the engine;`

y' In order that fuel may be withdrawn selectively from the separate supply tanks there is disposed in chamber I2 a tapered plug type valve 2D comprised` of an inner tubular shaft I'I and an outer cork member I8. The shaft I'I is longitudinally arrangedin chamber I2 with one `end thereof in `substantial alignment with the outlet opening I5. `An axial bore I 9 is formed in shaft I 'I and in the end ofthe shaft adjacent to opening I5 is a counterbore- 2l. ,The cork member I8 surrounds the shaft I I and is held between an annular iiange- 22 midway along the shaft and a lock ring assembly 23 on the shaft; The cork member has a frusto- `conical shape complementing the` chamber I2 and frictionally engages the wall of the chamber. A radial port 24 is formed in the valve 20 by registering openings in the shaft I1 and member I8 and communicates with counterbore 2I. Through rotation of the valve assembly the port 24 may be brought opposite selected inlet openings and establish communication between the selected inlet opening and outlet I to the exclusion of all the other inlet openings. The cork member I B, it will be observed, functions as a seal when in contact with the wall of chamber I2.

Closing..that..end.of body IIoppOsite .outlet I5 is a coverplate 25. Thecoverplate 25 is bolted to the body I I and is elevated at its center portion to denne an internal chamber 26. The shaft l1 extends through the chamber 26 and has a bearing in a central opening in thefcover plate;l

A seal assembly 21 surrounds the shaft ,inside the cover plate and prevents `fthlerjescapeinf fluid along the shaft. Communication between` the chamber 26 and valve shaft coun-terbore 2| is provided by bore I9 and a radial 3port4285-` in the chamber 2t is indexing or detentingtmechanism by which the valve is yieldingly arrested' inthe other 'ofthe discs by relative movement between the discs. The disc 29' functions `4asthe stationary part of the detent lmechanism; being held iiiredwith `respect tothe cover platef`by studss which pass through peripheral openings inthe disc into-inwardlyfacing'plate recesses. The dieet! 'is securedto and movable witlithe shaft i1; The spring 32; ily-addition to effecting engagement of the detent discs 29 and? 3Ipresses the entire valve assembly to a'seated`p osition-in chamber l2 in a manner to seal the several inlet and outlet openings from undesired communication-'with eachother;` y j Y i 'n Outsidethe valvebodythere is securedltojthe shaft I1, as by a pin 36; arhead31.- lThe head 3l is generally rectangular tin shape (see-Fig; 2l) with' a central openingA receiving thegshaftf I1. Surroundingthe shaft l1 between head 31 and the rcover plate 25 are an actuating ring 3'8"'and a spacing assembly comprising-a washer 39and shirnsy 4i, the latter restingonthe-cover plate 25. The action of spring 32 in 'pressing'- the valve actuating shaft i1 axially inward tends to ei'ect a. surface engagement ofthe head 31 withl'thje actuator 33; In the -under surface of' thehead S1 are diametrically opposed grooves 42. Adapted to Iengagein the'respective grooves 42 "are lballs 43 carried by theactuator--SB' in Ispaced holes therein (see Fig.k 3). washer Stand are prevented thereby'from dropping outof position. Y Thusyin response to-retary movement of the actuator 38 relative to jthe shaft i?, the balls d'acton the sides ,of thegroove 42 with a camining action and effect axiall movement of the head 3'! -and` associated 'parts in -anoutward or lifting-direction. Relative rotary moti-on of the actuatoris limitedby integrally formed lugs 44 thereon stationedoniopposite sidesof'the head 3 1. The`lugsi'44 'arefspaced slightly from the sides of the-head'l sc'that Ythey-are without' Tnebans 4-3 ridete-the eiect on the head during the initial rotary movement of the actuator. Upon contact of the lugs 44 with the head 31, however, continued rotary motion of the actuator is imparted to the valve actuating shaft I1.

As seen in Fig. 2, the lugs 44 have a bifurcated construction, allowing a lever o-r like operating means to be supported therebetween.

In the operation of the fuel cock, lwhen it is desired to change the adjustment of the valve 2U from a position interconnecting one of the spaced radial inlets and the outlet I to a-,position interconnectinganotherjof the inlets and the outlet, the actuator 38 is turned through the degrees of movement necessary to move the valve to its newly selected position of adjustment. During its :initial rotative movement the actuator moves relatively 'to the shaft I1, and, through the coy action ofthe balfls43 and grooves 42 in head 31,

raisestheshaft to lift the valve slightly from its seat'in chamber I2. Torque resistance, due to theV frictionalfengagement of the valve with the wall of chamber l2, thereby is relieved, and the valveis permitted to turn easily with the actuator 33 as continued movement of the actuator causes'v the lugs '44 thereon to contactfhead -r31. .Arrivalof theLvalve inf successive :positions ofrad-l justment islsignaled bythe settling of detents 33 into the complementarynotches 34.

What-is claimed is: 4 l

l, In a fluid distributing mechanism havinga body and a valve in said'bodyfmovable inv rotary andaXia-l directions,said valve havingan operating shaftiextending'ffrom saidbody and through whichjshaft motion is imparted to said valveevace tnating mechanism for said shaftincluding-an angular-head xed to lsaid shaft outsidevbody; anactuatoryring surrounding" said shaft adjacent said head; springmeans urging-'saidfactuator ring and-saidv head into contactingl relation; projecting-'lugs on said actuator ring arranged alongsideV said head and' operative during rotary movement f of said actuator v ring' to engage Vand turn said head and said shaft, said lugs-occupyinginitially apositiony spaced fromlsaid head whereby a-'lost motion period intervenes between the start -ofyrotary motion ofsaid` actuator ring and Ithe time of 'engagement of said lugs with said head; and complementary cam means carriedlby said actuator ring and said head--for'ef' iectingy axial motion of vsaid head Aand `said 'valve operating shaft during said lost motion period, said means including rolling members carried by said ring, and grooves inv saidf headfreceiving Vsaid rolling members.- 1

2;' In a fluid distributing mechanism :havingi a multiported 'body providing a valve seat, afvalve in saidibody on said 'valve seat,.said valvey being rotatably movable selectively to interconnect the ports in said body, and said valvey being longitudinally movable towardy and froml frictional. en'- gagement4 with said a valve'- seat; l means pressing said valve toward frictionallengagement with said valve seat; -a valve operating "shaft through which'motion is imparted l'to said'valve; af head of generally rectangular shape secured to -said shaft; diametri'cally 'opposed grooves `in asurm face offsaid head; anaotuator ring surrounding saidl sh'aft adjacent f to. said head; rolling, memberscarried by Saidactuator ring land vreceived. inI saidV diametrically opposed grooves, whereby relative rotary-'motion of said actuatorringfserves to elevate said valve operating shaft to withdraw said 2valve from frictional engagement'with the valve-seat; andupstanding lugs Ion said actuater ring extending alongside said head and normally UNHED STATES PATENTS spaced therefrom, said lugs being fengageable with said head following initial relative motion Number Name `Date of said actuator ring whereby continued rotary 2,046,256` Huhn June 30, 1936 movement of said ring eiects a corresponding 5 `2,233,340 Kehler M2112 4,. 1941 motion of Said Shaft. N HERBERT C. WILKENIN G. G PA TS Number Country Date REFERENCES CITED 69,396 Germany June 27', 1893 The following references are of record in the 10 783861 France 'f" Apr' 15 1935 le of this patent: i 

